Written Answers Wednesday 18 June 2008

Scottish Executive

Climate Change

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the removal of tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges has had across each bridge on (a) the total number of road journeys, (b) the length of the peak period and (c) greenhouse gas emission levels arising from road journeys.

Stewart Stevenson: The new traffic management arrangements at the Forth Road Bridge came into effect on 26 May 2008, and major works are continuing at the Tay Road Bridge which restrict traffic flows southbound. It is therefore too early to make any realistic assessment of the traffic and other impacts of the abolition of tolls. We will work with the bridge boards and neighbouring local authorities to monitor the situation and to see how any impacts arising directly from the abolition of tolls might be addressed.

Climate Change

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact each project listed in the Scottish motorway and trunk road programme will have on greenhouse gas emission levels.

Stewart Stevenson: The principal greenhouse gas emitted by traffic using trunk roads and motorways is carbon dioxide. An assessment of the emissions of carbon dioxide from traffic predicted to use new trunk road projects is usually undertaken as part of the environmental impact assessment of the road proposals. These assessments are based on traffic modelling for the schemes which predict changes in traffic flows, and report emissions as a change in the quantity of carbon dioxide compared with the predicted conditions without the new or improved road in place. The findings of these assessments are presented in the environmental statement (ES) for each project which is a public document.

  Information on carbon dioxide emissions is not available for all projects in the motorway and trunk road programme. A number of smaller road improvement schemes do not significantly change traffic flows and have a negligible effect on emissions. Also, several schemes are still in preparation and have not yet reached the ES stage. A summary of information for the projects in the programme on which information is available from the relevant ES is presented in the following table.

  

 Route
 Project Name
Estimated Carbon Dioxide Emissions*(t.p.a.)
 Assessment Year


 A876
 Upper Forth Crossing at Kincardine
 7,524
 2021


 A75
 Overtaking Opportunities
 32
 2021


 A830
 Arisaig to Loch nan Uamh
 Reduction of 70
 2021


 A9
 Ballinluig Junction
 181
 2022


 M74 
 M74 Completion
 134,800
 2020


 A7
 Auchenrivock
 130
 2006


 A77
 Park End to Bennane
 3
 2008


 A76
 Glenairlie
 105
 2007


 M74
 Raith Interchange
 10,000
 2020


 M80
 Stepps to Haggs
 40,000
 2025


 A9
 Crubenmore Extension
 251
 2022


 A96
 Fochabers to Mosstodloch
 171
 2020


 M8 
 Baillieston to Newhouse
 30,000
 2020


 M8
 Associated Network Improvements
 1,600
 2010


 A75
 Dunragit Bypass
 3,670
 2022


 A9
 Kincraig to Dalraddy
 45
 2023


 A90
 Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route
 36,700 
 2025


 A77
 Symington and Bogend Toll
 121
 2024


 A90
 Balmedie to Tipperty
 2,137
 2010



  Note: *Estimates are predicted increases (unless shown) in carbon dioxide emissions with the project compared to without the project, in a given future assessment year. Units: tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum.

  Environmental Statements for a number of projects in the trunk road and motorway programme can be accessed from the projects pages of Transport Scotland’s website:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/projects.

Climate Change

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact the additional Forth crossing will have on greenhouse gas emission levels.

Stewart Stevenson: An assessment of the emissions from traffic predicted to use the crossing will be undertaken as part of the environmental impact assessment. The findings will be published in an environmental statement in 2009.

Cycling

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to encourage people to take up cycling as an alternative method of transport.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11801 on 23 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Cycling

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on cycling as an alternative method of transport.

Stewart Stevenson: In the National Transport Strategy, there is a commitment to continue to promote cycling and walking as sustainable forms of transport especially for short journeys. This Scottish Government will honour that commitment through continued funding support for local authorities and other key stakeholders.

  The Scottish Government is currently working in partnership with Cycling Scotland and other stakeholders in developing a Cycling Action Plan for Scotland which will aim to get more people cycling more often. The action plan will be published by March 2009.

Cycling

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on cycling projects, as part of the transport budget, from 2003 to 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: From 2003 to 2007, spend on cycling projects was as follows:

  

 
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


£ million
 4.85
 4.94
 5.73
 11.216
 11.330



  In addition to the above grants, funding for 20mph around schools, funding for school travel coordinator posts and the trunks roads network cycling programme all had elements of spending on cycling projects which were not costed separately but were an integral part of the grant programmes.

Cycling

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to cycling projects, as part of the transport budget, over the period of the current spending review.

Stewart Stevenson: Allocations for cycling projects from the sustainable and active budget line have been made for 2008-09 only. This year £6.58 million will be allocated to cycling projects. In addition, £9 million will be awarded to local authorities for cycling, walking and safer streets projects. It is up to local authorities to spend accordingly on local priorities.

  Direct funding as part of the trunk road network cycling policy and developing the National Cycle Network within trunk road corridors is around £2 million this year. Also, cycling infrastructure forms an integral part of many road improvements which is not separately costed. Also, funding for the general refurbishment on 25x class 158 trains based at Inverness has been made available and will include cycle storage for on board carriage.

  Within the sustainable active travel budget, up to £15 million will be available to local authorities over the spending review period for the smarter choices smarter places project. Participating local authorities will use this funding to implement intense activity on sustainable travel and related physical activity interventions, including walking and cycling.

  The national physical activity strategy will invest a further £12 million over the next three years for physical activity initiatives in schools, workplaces, homes and across communities. This will include projects that promote cycling.

Cycling

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many bikes were purchased in Scotland from 2003 to 2007 and what the total value was of all such sales.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

  The Bike Station in Edinburgh, part funded by the Scottish Government, received 1,568 second hand bicycles worth a resale total of £82,000 in 2007-08. This was the highest sales value achieved in any one year since the establishment of the Bike Station.

Cycling

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it is doing to encourage people to take up cycling as a form of exercise.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-11801 on 23 April 2008. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  Also, as part of the national physical activity strategy published in 2003, the Scottish Government will invest £12 million for physical activity initiatives over the next three years, this will be used to expand a wide range of programmes, including the creation of better recreational spaces and improve environments for walking and cycling.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many inward investment projects were obtained by Scotland in each of the last five years and what the value was of each project, shown also as a percentage of total inward investment into the United Kingdom.

Jim Mather: Table 1 shows the number of involved successes that Scottish Development International (SDI) has reported in each of the last five years. Involved successes are those inward investment projects that SDI has played a significant role in attracting to Scotland. As companies are not required to notify SDI when investing in Scotland, it is not possible to identify all projects.

  Table 1: Scottish Development International’s Involved Successes

  

 
 2007-08
 2006-07
 2005-06
 2004-05
 2003-04


 Total projects
 69
 59
 53
 46
 65


 Total investment* (£ million)
£289.988
£313.598
£245.566
£140.797
£231.499


 Total jobs
 6,715
 7,507
 6,043
 5,068
 5,475


 Total high value jobs**
 2,638
 1,774
 1,527
 1,821
 1,261



  Notes:

  *The value of each project is not available as, unless they receive public funding, companies are not obliged to release details of their investment.

  **High value jobs are jobs with salaries at least 20% above the Scottish average and/or those in research, design and development.

  Table 2 shows data from Ernst & Young’s European Investment Monitor (EIM), which tracks cross-border investment projects and trends throughout Europe. Although the EIM is the most comprehensive source of this information, it cannot capture every project. Note that the EIM data includes both involved and non-involved successes but excludes intra-UK movement and certain categories of investment project, such as extraction activities, for example. SDI records in its figures projects that come to Scotland from other parts of the UK but excludes non-involved successes.

  Table 2: Scottish Inward Investment Projects Shown as a Percentage of UK Projects

  

 
 2007-08
 2006-07
 2005-06
 2004-05
 2003-04


 Total UK projects
 708
 691
 604
 556
 368


 Total Scottish projects
 61
 65
 51
 66
 29


 Scottish projects shown as a % of UK projects
 8.62%
 9.41%
 8.44%
 11.87%
 7.88%

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of business spend was on research and development in each of the last five years, shown also as a percentage of GDP.

John Swinney: Expenditure on research and development (R&D) performed in Scottish businesses is given in the following table

  

 
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006


 Business R&D expenditure (£ million)
 550
 508
 493
 586
 579


 Business R&D expenditure as a % of GDP1
 0.65
 0.57
 0.53
 0.60
 0.56



  Source: Office for National Statistics and Scottish Government.

  Note: 1. Market price GDP for Scotland is estimated based on the UK Gross Value Added to GDP ratio.

  This information is available publicly in the Scottish Government’s statistical publication Business Enterprise Research and Development Scotland 2006, which can be accessed at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/BERD06.

Economy

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated value has been of Scotland’s GDP in each of the last five years.

John Swinney: At present, there are no official estimates of GDP at market prices for Scotland. However, it is possible to produce an approximate measure by calculating the difference between Gross Value Added and GDP for the UK and applying the ratio to the published Gross Value Added estimates for Scotland. This method has been used to produce the estimates in the following table:

  Table 1: Approximate GDP at current market prices for Scotland (2002-06)

  

 Year
 2002
 2003
 2004
 2005
 2006


 GDP at Market Prices (£ million)1
 84,235
 89,278
 93,804
 98,337
 104,234



  Source: Office for National Statistics and Scottish Government.

  Note: 1. Market price GDP for Scotland is estimated based on the UK Gross Value Added to GDP ratio. Although, National Statistics outputs have been used in the production of these estimates, the estimates themselves are not.

Electricity

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific information it received during the public local inquiry into the Beauly to Denny line regarding the heath effects of the expansion of the electricity substation at Wester Balblair, as opposed to the heath effects of the overhead cables.

Stewart Stevenson: Parties to the Beauly to Denny public local inquiry were advised that consideration of health matters would be in the context of government policy and advice.

  The strategy session heard detailed evidence on matters related to concerns about health with Dr W Bailey speaking for the applicants and Professors DL Henshaw and MJ O’Carroll giving evidence for the objectors, Stirling Before Pylons. Mrs C Paterson, a member of Stirling Before Pylons and a lay member of the Stakeholder Advisory Group on Electric and Magnetic Fields (SAGE) also gave evidence on health for the objectors.

  Three reports concerning health and electric and magnetic fields (EMFs) were published during the course of the inquiry: the SAGE report, the BioInitiative report, and a cross-party report in Childhood Leukaemia and Extremely Low Frequency EMFs. Parties were given the opportunity to make written submissions on these reports.

  In the opinion of the reporter, the content of Mr Coghill’s evidence, in effect, repeated the nature of the evidence which was the subject of thorough consideration during the course of the strategy session of the Beauly Denny inquiry.

European Convention on Human Rights

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors compliance by local authorities with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR); whether it considers that any local authority has breached ECHR rules since 1999, and what recourse is available to individuals who believe that a local authority is in breach of a Convention right.

John Swinney: Compliance by local authorities with the European Convention on Human Rights is a matter for authorities themselves as independent corporate bodies. The European Convention on Human Rights was incorporated into domestic law by the Human Rights Act 1998. It would therefore be open to an individual who believes that his or her rights under the convention have been breached by a public authority to bring an action against that authority in the Scottish courts.

Ferry Services

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what advice it has given to CalMac Ferries Ltd and Northlink Ferries Ltd regarding the use of oil.

Stewart Stevenson: Under the terms of the ferry contracts between Scottish ministers and CalMac Ferries Ltd and NorthLink Ferries Ltd, the Scottish Government is required to pay additional grant by way of fuel supplement to cover any increase in fuel cost above the agreed levels set out in the contracts. Fuel prices have more than doubled since the contracts were first agreed and additional grant being paid to the ferry operators reflects this significant increase.

  The Scottish Government is working closely with the ferry companies to consider a range of measures to reduce fuel costs without affecting services or increasing fares.

Finance

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage variance was of actual spending from the final budget totals, as approved by the Parliament following the relevant autumn and spring revisions, in each year since 1999-2000.

John Swinney: Details are as follows:

  Percentage Variance of Outturn against Final Budgets1

  

 Year
 %


 1999-20002
 -2.5


 2000-01
 -4.9


 2001-02
 -2.1


 2002-03
 -1.7


 2003-043
 -2.0


 2004-05
 -0.8


 2005-06
 -1.2


 2006-07
 -1.0


 2007-084
 -0.8



  Notes:

  1. Based on data published in Scottish Consolidated Accounts.

  2. Based on Scottish Office Resource Accounts.

  3. Move from cash accounting to resource accounting.

  4. Provisional outturn.

First Minister

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the First Minister to take his first journey by train since his appointment

John Swinney: The First Minister has travelled by train since his appointment.

Forth Crossing

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take to deal with the extra 9,000 tonnes of CO 2 created from the abolition of tolls on the Forth Road Bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: The new traffic management arrangements at the Forth Road Bridge came into effect on 26 May and it is too early to assess the traffic and other impacts of the abolition of tolls. Any environmental impacts of the changes arising from the abolition of the tolls are likely to be marginal, but we will work with the Forth Estuary Transport Authority and local authorities to monitor the situation and to see how any direct impacts might be addressed.

Forth Crossing

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the findings of its examination of replacement Forth crossing options have provided any useful data about the potential effects on traffic across the Forth of new direct rail services to Edinburgh from west Fife and Clackmannanshire.

Stewart Stevenson: No relevant data was gathered during the examination of replacement crossing options.

  However, the Forth Replacement Crossing Study recognised that investments in the rail network can contribute to reducing road congestion and harmful emissions.

Forth Crossing

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether giving the residents of western Fife direct access by rail to Stirling and its university could increase educational opportunities and contribute to the objective of making Scotland smarter.

Stewart Stevenson: It is not possible to determine what impact a direct rail link between western Fife and Stirling would have on educational opportunities.

  Our rail policy document, Scotland’s Railways, sets out Scottish ministers aspirations for the rail network in Scotland. This focuses on achieving three key strategic outcomes of improving journey times and connections, reducing emissions and improving quality, accessibility and affordability.

Forth Crossing

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the "14 possible options for work to be carried out under the umbrella of the Scottish Futures Trust", described by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 5 June 2008 in motion S3M-2057, have been identified as suitable for financing the replacement Forth crossing.

John Swinney: As members have been informed previously, the procurement and financing options for the Forth replacement crossing will be brought to the Parliament in 2008.

Forth Crossing

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is still considering the use of the non-profit distribution model to finance the replacement Forth crossing.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is currently reviewing various funding options available for the Forth replacement crossing, including the use of the non-profit distribution model.

Forth Crossing

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will set out the procurement, timetable and financing plans for the replacement Forth crossing before autumn 2008.

Stewart Stevenson: Decisions on these matters will be made before the end of 2008.

Forth Crossing

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it received on the use of patriotic bonds to fund the replacement Forth crossing.

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it discovered that patriotic bonds would not be a viable method of financing the replacement Forth crossing.

Stewart Stevenson: Ministers are still receiving various forms of advice regarding funding methods for the Forth replacement crossing.

Forth Crossing

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the procurement competition for the replacement Forth crossing to occur.

Stewart Stevenson: The current programme for the development of the project envisages a procurement competition in 2010 leading to the appointment of a constructor in 2011.

Forth Crossing

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects a contractor for the replacement Forth crossing to be appointed.

Stewart Stevenson: The current programme for the project anticipates that a contractor will be appointed in 2011.

Forth Crossing

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects the replacement Forth crossing to open.

Stewart Stevenson: The Forth Replacement Crossing is expected to open in 2016.

Fuel

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people over the age of 65 heat their homes using primarily (a) oil, (b) gas, (c) solid fuel or (d) electricity.

Stewart Maxwell: The 2005-06 Scottish house condition survey estimates of the count of primary heating fuel used by people aged over 65 is shown in the following table:

  

 Primary Fuel Used
 Number of People Aged over 65


 Oil
 59,000


 Gas
 577,000


 Solid fuel
 28,000


 Electricity
 155,000


 Communal Schemes
 19,000


 Total
 838,000

Futures Project

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to update the 2006 Strategic Audit on the Futures Project on a regular basis, and if so, when.

John Swinney: The Strategic Audit, conducted as part of the Futures Project, was the first long-term analysis of Scotland’s progress in comparison to other countries. This sort of analysis continues within the Scottish Government to underpin policy-making. We will also include this kind of comparison in the development of Scotland Performs where information on how the country is progressing towards our priorities is available for everyone to assess.

Housing

David McLetchie (Edinburgh Pentlands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what total receipts were generated from the sale of homes under right-to-buy legislation in each year since its introduction and what its best estimate is with regard to how such receipts were applied to (a) repayment of debt, (b) investment in new or improved homes by local authorities and other social landlords and (c) other purposes.

Stewart Maxwell: The number of sales to public authority sitting tenants under right-to-buy legislation and the total receipts from these sales are shown in the following table.

  Right-to-Buy Sales and Receipts from Sales to Sitting Tenants of Public Authority Stock: 1979-2007

  

 Year
 Number of Sales
 Total Receipts (£000)
 Year
 Number of Sales
 Total Receipts (£000)


 1979
 1,000
 7,345
 1994
 20,500
 305,716


 1980
 4,700
 35,355
 1995
 16,300
 247,825


 1981
 8,800
 69,291
 1996
 12,600
 195,188


 1982
 12,300
 103,890
 1997
 16,500
 255,415


 1983
 15,000
 138,833
 1998
 14,100
 213,294


 1984
 13,700
 136,161
 1999
 13,300
 208,511


 1985
 12,600
 127,869
 2000
 14,000
 223,721


 1986
 11,400
 120,948
 2001
 13,100
 214,381


 1987
 15,400
 159,218
 2002
 15,800
 272,293


 1988
 24,800
 250,179
 2003
 17,500
 328,325


 1989
 32,500
 335,156
 2004
 12,800
 283,793


 1990
 29,300
 317,090
 2005
 11,100
 287,632


 1991
 20,600
 254,346
 2006
 8,800
 261,188


 1992
 21,700
 292,502
 2007
 7,400
 261,630


 1993
 18,100
 260,175
 
 
 



  Source: Sales 3 returns to the Scottish Government communities analytical services (housing statistics). Scottish Homes data provided by Communities Scotland.

  Notes:

  1. Public authorities include local authorities, new towns and Scottish Homes.

  2. Public authorities with total stock transfers are included to ensure comparability over time.

  3. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100 for sales and the nearest £1,000 for receipts, and include estimates due to outstanding returns.

  4. All monetary values are nominal and not adjusted for inflation.

  The Scottish Government does not hold information about the extent to which receipts from right-to-buy sales have contributed to debt repayment for the entirety of the period. Prior to 1996, there were no constraints on the use of such receipts. Between 1996 and 2004, local authorities were required to set aside a proportion of receipts for repayment of debt, 25% in 1996, rising to 75% in 1997. From 2004 onward, local authorities have had complete discretion over use of receipts. Information on the extent to which receipts have been used for other purposes is not held centrally.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many homes were built in each local authority area in 2007-08 using Housing Association Grant.

Stewart Maxwell: The number of homes completed in 2007-08 using Housing Association Grant (HAG), broken down by local authority area are detailed below.

  HAG includes the provision of affordable housing for rent and for low cost home ownership (LIFT).

  

 Local Authority Development Programme
Unit Completions
2007-08Total


 Highlands and Islands


 Highland 
 388


 Orkney
 37


 Shetland
 15


 Western Isles
 44


 Total
 484


 Grampian


 Aberdeenshire
 86


 City of Aberdeen
 100


 Moray
 100


 Total
 286


 Tayside and Forth Valley 


 Angus
 112


 City of Dundee
 131


 Perth & Kinross
 153


 Clackmannanshire
 3


 Falkirk 
 0


 Stirling 
 134


 Total
 533


 Lothian, Borders and Fife (excl City of Edinburgh)


 East Lothian 
 80


 Fife 
 282


 Midlothian 
 35


 The Scottish Borders
 81


 West Lothian 
 85


 Total
 563


 City of Edinburgh
 491


 South and West Scotland


 Dumfries and Galloway
 276


 East Ayrshire
 80


 North Ayrshire
 139


 North Lanarkshire 
 86


 South Ayrshire
 62


 South Lanarkshire 
 145


 Total
 788


 Argyll and Clyde


 Argyll and Bute
 206


 West Dunbartonshire 
 48


 East Dunbartonshire 
 26


 Inverclyde
 93


 Renfrewshire
 168


 East Renfrewshire 
 0


 Total
 541


 Glasgow 
 981


 LIFT: Shared Equity Open Market Pilot
 654


 Mortgage to Rent
 161


 Total
 5482

Justice

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans, under the restructuring of district courts, to close courts in Motherwell, Monklands, Cumbernauld, or anywhere else in Scotland.

Kenny MacAskill: The unification of summary criminal court administration is being implemented across Scotland on a sheriffdom by sheriffdom basis. A full consultation will take place on the proposals for each sheriffdom and no decisions on any court restructuring will be made until each sheriffdom consultation has been concluded and the responses considered.

Local Government Finance

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated to each local authority for (a) 2008-09 and (b) 2009-10.

John Swinney: The information requested is set out in the Scottish Government’s Finance Circular 1-2008 , which details the local government finance settlements covering the period 2008-11. A copy of this circular is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 45732).

  The allocations for 2009-10 are currently provisional and will be subject to parliamentary approval when the Local Government Finance (Scotland) Order 2009 is presented to the parliament early in 2009.

NHS Hospitals

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what investment plans it has for the Scottish Regional Treatment Centre at Stracathro Hospital.

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will support an extension to the private sector contract for the Scottish Regional Treatment Centre at Stracathro Hospital if NHS Tayside considers the contract to be beneficial to NHS patients.

Nicola Sturgeon: Funding of £5 million per annum over three years, to 2009-10, has been made available to the Scottish Regional Treatment Centre at Stracathro. The contract between NHS Tayside and Netcare has more than a year to run and any decision on its future will not be made before a full evaluation report has been completed.

NHS Waiting Times

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how long the waiting times are for women to access treatment for infertility in each NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information requested is not centrally available.

  The Scottish Government is working with NHS boards and other stakeholders to gather data on IVF waiting times, which will be used to inform our options to improve equity of access to infertility treatment in Scotland.

National Care Standards

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it received regarding the use of chemical restraint in care homes prior to developing the National Care Standards for care homes for older people.

Shona Robison: As you will be aware, it is not the practice of Scottish ministers to publish legal advice. This is for reasons of confidentiality and in the interests of good and effective governance.

National Care Standards

Nicol Stephen (Aberdeen South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether full account will be taken of human rights issues when the National Care Standards are revised, including seeking the views of the Scottish Commissioner for Human Rights.

Shona Robison: There is a statutory requirement for Scottish ministers to keep the National Care Standards under review and to publish amended standards whenever they consider it necessary to do so. Should a review of the standards result in amendments being proposed we would consult all interested parties including the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Non-Profit Distributing Model

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that there are equity profits to be made under non-profit distributing schemes.

John Swinney: A key feature in the non-profit distributing model is the lack of equity capital as it has a 100% debt funded structure. This means that the returns to the private sector are capped and that any surpluses generated are retained and used for the benefit of the public interest.

Non-Profit Distributing Model

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding method will be used for each of the seven school building projects that have been signed off since May 2007.

John Swinney: Of the seven school building projects which we have signed off since May 2007, two were procured using the non-profit distributing model (Falkirk and Aberdeen City), our preferred method of procurement if private capital at risk is deployed. The other five projects were procured using the "standard" PFI model (East Dunbartonshire, West Lothian, Perth and Kinross, Dumfries and Galloway and West Dunbartonshire). We allowed these five projects to continue after taking office last May as they were well advanced.

Non-Profit Distributing Model

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding method will be used for the 13 schools to be delivered via four separate school building projects, as stated by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 28 May 2008 ( Official Report , c. 9006).

John Swinney: Three of the four schools building projects are based on the non-profit distributing model. These projects, which will deliver nine schools, are in various stages of procurement and are in Western Isles, Orkney and Moray councils. The other school project in Inverclyde Council is a "standard" PFI and this will deliver four new schools. We allowed the Inverclyde Council project to continue after taking office last May as it was well advanced.

Public Transport

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what rural bus services have been discontinued since May 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: This is a matter for the Traffic Commissioner for the Scottish Traffic Area. The information requested is not held centrally. The Traffic Commissioner is the licensing authority for the bus industry in Scotland and applies the regulatory regime. Operators are legally required to register their local services with the Commissioner. The Traffic Commissioner can be contacted at: J Floor, Argyle House, 3 Lady Lawson Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9SE.

Rail Network

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what studies are underway or projects planned for further rail electrification in Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: In my statement to Parliament on 27 September I outlined plans to electrify services in Central Scotland with initial priorities focussing on electrification of the Edinburgh to Glasgow route including routes to Stirling, Dunblane, Alloa and Cumbernauld. Feasibility work on these projects is underway.

  Our High Level Output Specification, published in July 2007, outlined plans to electrify a number of other suburban routes and these will be progressed as resources become available.

Rail Network

Aileen Campbell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-13201 by Stewart Stevenson on 5 June 2008, what estimates it has made of the number of closed or unoperational train stations.

Stewart Stevenson: No estimates have been made by Transport Scotland of the number of closed or unoperational stations.

Rail Network

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how safety and other specifications for railways vary between passenger and freight use.

Stewart Stevenson: Railway safety is a matter which is reserved to the UK Government.

  There is no significant difference in the safety of either a passenger or freight railway as both come under the same safety approvals process and both modes run on a shared infrastructure throughout the vast majority of the network.

  There are a few lines which are designated freight only and whilst the level of safety will be similar to the rest of the network, there may be some variance on technical specification. This variance reflects the different operational requirements required on a freight only line. For example passenger routes are designed to accommodate a higher density of traffic and higher speeds than a freight only line where there is usually a lesser requirement for either traffic density or speed.

  Similarly passenger trains and freight trains have similar standards of safety but are built to the most appropriate technical standards that reflect their operational requirements. For example the weight, braking and suspension characteristics of a passenger train permit it to travel at higher speeds than a heavy freight train on a given piece of track.

Rail Network

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Strategic Transport Projects Review being conducted by Transport Scotland is considering the utility of additional stations on existing railway lines in addition to railway extensions.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland’s Strategic Transport Projects Review is considering a range of land-based transport interventions for the period 2012 to 2022, primarily road and rail based. This includes looking at the scope for further enhancements to the rail network to improve rail routes.

Rail Network

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that the concerns about potential traffic through the west Fife villages, as outlined in the members’ business debate on 15 May 2008 on the Upper Forth Crossing ( Official Report , c. 8750), could be reduced by the alternative of a passenger rail service running through western Fife.

Stewart Stevenson: Rail services in this area will be examined as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which is expected to report to ministers in the summer.

Renewable Energy

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the next round of the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme will be launched.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has substantially increased the funding available for microgeneration and community renewables, allowing us to direct more funding towards projects using a wide range of technologies, including biomass. For the first time, businesses will now be eligible for interest free loans to install microgeneration, which includes biomass.

  In addition, the Scottish rural development programme offers a number of options that provide support towards the purchase and installation of equipment to enable the development of small scale renewable energy capacity, including biomass.

  We are currently considering future support for biomass projects outwith these categories, and will take into account the potential to increase support for biomass under the Renewables Obligation (Scotland) as well as the progress made by projects supported under the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that radar issues pose a potential barrier to meeting renewable energy targets.

Jim Mather: We believe that with careful planning and effective consultation amongst developers, aviation and radar interests it will be possible to balance renewable energy development, aviation and radar safety. This view is strengthened by the fact that there is a UK initiative to promote technical solutions to address these issues.

Renewable Energy

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S3W-940 by Jim Mather on 13 June 2007, when a determination will be made on the proposed Clyde wind farm.

Jim Mather: Following the public inquiry in 2006 we have been discussing the range of outstanding issues involved with interested parties. We intend to reach a determination on this application soon.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which trunk road projects are currently being financed and which will be financed between now and the end of the current spending review period.

Stewart Stevenson: The current programme of investment in the trunk road network is available on the Transport Scotland website at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/roads/Motorways-Trunk-Road-Programme-June2007-final.pdf.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which of the trunk road projects currently being financed, or which it is proposed be financed between now and the end of the current spending review period, were proposed under the previous administration.

Stewart Stevenson: While I cannot speak on behalf of previous administrations, the current programme was set out in my statement to Parliament on 27 June 2007. This can be found at:

  http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/files/documents/roads/Motorways-Trunk-Road-Programme-June2007-final.pdf.

Roads

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements have been made to roads for which it has responsibility in (a) Edinburgh, (b) West Lothian and (c) Midlothian since May 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: The A68 Dalkeith Northern Bypass, which is in Midlothian, is currently under construction and is due to be completed in August 2008. A short-term £2.5 million improvement of the A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout is programmed to commence on 23 June 2008.

Roads

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has plans to designate the remainder of the A977 as a trunk road.

Stewart Stevenson: We have no current plans to designate the A977 as a trunk road.

Scottish Futures Trust

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all "14 possible options for work to be carried out under the umbrella of the Scottish Futures Trust", described by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth on 5 June 2008 in motion S3M-2057, are currently subject to further development.

John Swinney: The Scottish Futures Trust, which is to be set up this summer, will further develop the 14 delivery and funding concepts set out in Taking Forward the Scottish Futures Trust (Bib. number 45605).

Scottish Futures Trust

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of the school building projects identified by local authorities in Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008 are anticipated to be delivered via the Scottish Futures Trust model.

John Swinney: It is for local authorities themselves to determine the most appropriate procurement route for investment in school building projects identified in the Infrastructure Investment Plan 2008  (Bib. number 45134). The Scottish Futures Trust will be established over the summer, and one of the first steps of the development and delivery arm of the company will be to discuss with local government steps towards the development of a strategy for the delivery and funding of a range of infrastructure investment activities including schools infrastructure.

Student Finance

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made any cost estimates of implementing changes to means testing for student bursaries and loans for new students only, while simultaneously continuing to operate for existing students the system that was in place at the start of the academic year.

Fiona Hyslop: Yes. The cost of changing the ICT systems were estimated to be at least £1 million. The decision which was taken to change the means-test arrangements for all students (not simply new students) was based on a range of factors. It was primarily taken on the basis of the impact two separate regimes would have on students and their parents, as well factors such as the operational and financial issues and risk in running two separate systems.

Student Finance

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it costs to lend £1 of student loan, providing a breakdown of these costs.

Fiona Hyslop: The direct DEL cost of making loans, known as the student loans subsidy, is 31p per £1 loaned, comprising the interest subsidy rate of 18.2p and the write-off rate of 12.8p.